Climate snapshot for alpacas
83/100Alpaca climate comfort score
84°FAverage high, Jul
14°FAverage low, Jan
~10Days above 90°F (32°C) per year
~180Frost nights per year
19 inAnnual precipitation
4Barber pole worm months
16Hay bales / alpaca / year
Main challenges
- Summer heat — heat-stress precautions needed in Aug
- Hard winters — average lows under 15 °F in Jan–Feb
Advantages
- Low meningeal worm risk
Overall rating: 83/100 — Excellent on our alpaca climate comfort score. Climate type: Warm-summer humid continental (Köppen Dfb).
Month-by-month climate
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
| Month | High | Low | Precip. | Heat-stress index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 37°F | 14°F | 0.4 in | 120 · ok | frost |
| Feb | 38°F | 15°F | 0.6 in | 109 · ok | frost |
| Mar | 48°F | 23°F | 1.0 in | 104 · ok | frost |
| Apr | 56°F | 30°F | 2.1 in | 115 · ok | frost |
| May | 65°F | 41°F | 3.4 in | 125 · ok | worms, grass |
| Jun | 76°F | 50°F | 3.1 in | 137 · caution | worms, grass |
| Jul | 84°F | 57°F | 2.8 in | 148 · caution | worms, grass |
| Aug | 83°F | 55°F | 2.0 in | 152 · high | worms, grass |
| Sep | 74°F | 46°F | 1.4 in | 128 · ok | grass |
| Oct | 59°F | 33°F | 1.4 in | 108 · ok | grass |
| Nov | 46°F | 23°F | 0.6 in | 115 · ok | frost |
| Dec | 37°F | 15°F | 0.5 in | 106 · ok | frost |
Heat-stress index = average high (°F) + mean humidity (%). “Worms” marks months that suit barber pole worm transmission; “grass” marks the grazing season; “frost” marks months with average lows below freezing. Source: NOAA nClimDiv 1991–2020 county normals.
Alpaca care calendar for Custer County, South Dakota
January 37° / 14°F
- Hard cold: extra hay at night, heated water, windbreaks and coats for crias or seniors; check ears for frostbite.
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
- Toenail check and trim.
February 38° / 15°F
- Hard cold: extra hay at night, heated water, windbreaks and coats for crias or seniors; check ears for frostbite.
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
March 48° / 23°F
- Book your shearer now — spring calendars fill up fast.
- Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
- Toenail check and trim.
April 56° / 30°F
- Run pre-season fecal egg counts so you know each animal's baseline.
- CDT boosters for females due next month; prepare a clean birthing paddock and birthing kit.
- Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
May 65° / 41°F
- Shearing month: shear the whole herd, and trim toenails, check teeth and body condition while animals are restrained.
- Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
- Cria season: check due dates daily, ensure crias nurse within 4 hours, dip navels and weigh crias daily for two weeks.
- Spring grass: switch from hay to pasture gradually over 1–2 weeks and monitor body condition.
- Toenail check and trim.
June 76° / 50°F
- Warm spells possible — watch for open-mouth breathing in heavy-fleeced or dark animals.
- Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
- Cria season: check due dates daily, ensure crias nurse within 4 hours, dip navels and weigh crias daily for two weeks.
- Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
July 84° / 57°F
- Warm spells possible — watch for open-mouth breathing in heavy-fleeced or dark animals.
- Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
- Cria season: check due dates daily, ensure crias nurse within 4 hours, dip navels and weigh crias daily for two weeks.
- Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
- Toenail check and trim.
August 83° / 55°F
- Heat precautions: shade, airflow, cool fresh water and no handling in the heat of the day.
- Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
- Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
September 74° / 46°F
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
- Toenail check and trim.
October 59° / 33°F
- Secure winter hay: about 16 small square bales per alpaca per year here — test a sample before buying.
- Winter prep: install water heaters, repair shelters and windbreaks, stock bedding.
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
November 46° / 23°F
- Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
- Toenail check and trim.
December 37° / 15°F
- Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
Key recommendations
- Shearing: May.
- Best months for crias to be born: May–Jul (breed in Jun–Aug).
- Heat precautions: Aug.
- Barber pole worm season: May–Aug — run fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks in these months.
- Freezing nights: Nov–Apr — keep water from freezing.
- Vitamin D for crias: Oct–Mar.
- Grazing season: May–Oct (about 6 months); feed hay the rest of the year.
- Meningeal worm: Meningeal worm is uncommon this far west but cases occur near the edge of its range.
- Selenium: Most forage here supplies adequate selenium, and some western areas have high-selenium plants — avoid stacking selenium supplements.
Tools: heat-stress calculator · winter hay calculator · due-date calculator · parasite control guide.
Alpaca farms & shops nearby
Places mapped on OpenStreetMap with “alpaca” in their name, within about 80 km (50 miles). Contact them before visiting — opening times change.
| Name | Type | Distance | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caputa Alpacas | farm | 32 mi | Visit |
Data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Know a farm that's missing? Add it to OpenStreetMap and it will appear here in the next update.
Frequently asked questions
Can you raise alpacas in Custer County, South Dakota?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Custer County, South Dakota scores 83/100 (excellent) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are summer heat and hard winters.
When should alpacas be shorn in Custer County, South Dakota?
Plan shearing for May, once nights stay above about 38°F (3°C) but before summer heat builds.
What is the best time for crias to be born in Custer County, South Dakota?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is May–Jul. For births then, breed females in Jun–Aug (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in Custer County, South Dakota?
With roughly 6 months of little or no grazing, plan on about 766 lb (347 kg) — around 16 small square bales — per adult alpaca per year, plus waste.
How hot does it get for alpacas in Custer County, South Dakota?
Heat-stress precautions are needed in Aug. We estimate about 10 days a year above 90°F (32°C).
Nearby counties
Coordinates 43.685, -103.462 · land area 1,557 sq mi. Long-term averages, not forecasts. See methodology and data sources. Back to South Dakota.